Mumbai:
The government has issued fresh norms for pre-qualification
of private bidders for public-private partnership in the
infrastructure sector.
The
guidelines, released by planning commission deputy chairman
Montek Singh Ahluwalia, aims at ensuring that only the
best get to develop the core sector projects.
The
revisions were necessitated by considerable divergence
in the principles and practices followed for selection
of bidders in different sectors, Ahluwalia said while
releasing the guidelines.
The
revised norms take stock of the fact that a bidder lacking
in sufficient technology and financial capacity could
jeopardise the project and compromise on the services
that government is committed to providing.
On
the other hand, a selection based on inadequate competition
could cost the public and the exchequer more than they
are required to shell out.
The
qualifying process would comprise two stages. The first
stage of request for qualification would shortlist applicants
while under the second stage short-listed applicants would
submit financial offers.
The
committee on infrastructure had set up an inter-ministerial
group, headed by the secretary, department of expenditure,
to finalise the rules for pre-qualification and shortlisting
of applicants.
The
group held extensive consultations with stakeholders and
experts before submitting its recommendations that were
subsequently accepted by the committee.
The
guidelines for pre-qualification of bidders for PPP projects
have since been issued by the finance ministry.
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